A Hi-tech electronics firm on Tyneside has won a trio of bumper contracts worth more than &#xA3;4.5m.

Joyce-Loebl, which is based in Team Valley, fended-off stiff competition from European rivals to win the first contract.

This will see the firm supply closed circuit TV systems for 347 refurbished trains in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

Graham Walker, Joyce-Loebl international project manager, said the company could thank its existing track record in Portugal - for both the state railway system and the Lisbon metro - for having beaten back the opposition.

A second order, worth &#xA3;300,000, is for the installation of an on-board public address audio system for refurbished trains destined for the East Coast Main Line, which links the North East with London.

The contract also includes a crew and passenger emergency call-for-aid system and a crew-to-driver communications system.

Mike Wade, a director with Joyce-Loebl, said: "Getting clarity of speech across trains that are 15 years old is very tricky as you have to use a lot of wiring and overcome background noise."

In a third contract, worth &#xA3;1.3m, the firm will supply passenger information displays for 70 trains being refurbished for the Docklands Light Railway, in London.

"These orders represent a further vindication of our strategy to target the growing rail market across Europe," added Mr Wade.